Statement on the Proposed State Budget

Statement on the Proposed State Budget By Pete Flesch Crawford County Board Chair Despite the promised removal of language gutting Wisconsin's open records law, this proposed budget is still a disaster that deserves to be rejected. Here are some of the reasons why: Transportation Funding: A path to nowhere This budget does nothing to address sustainability of the transportation fund, where revenues continue to decline. Instead it puts half a billion dollars on the state's credit card and delays needed maintenance and repair. How far do you suppose that $5 of property tax relief will go towards replacing our cars' battered struts and shocks...

Honk For Public Education

HONK FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION By Middle Wisconsin Editorial Staff Motorists are honking their horn for public education for all, thanks to rallies by concerned people all over Wisconsin. Throughout Wisconsin, many people are organizing and advocating for public education. Local groups are standing on sidewalks and holding signs to let people know what is going on in the state budget and the local schools. They are helping to educate the public on the needs of our public schools. In Wauwatosa SOS (Save Our Schools) has requested open records of their elected officials to determine the support for public education. In West Bend, the advocacy groups ...

Residents and Parents in River Falls Should Know… State Budget proposals impact our schools

School District of River Falls ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 852 East Division Street, River Falls WI 54022 715-425-1800 phone / 715-425-1804 fax www.rfsd.k12.wi.us June 5, 2015 Residents and Parents in River Falls Should Know… State Budget proposals impact our schools The current state budget and related legislative proposals would have significant and lasting negative implications for the School District of River Falls and all public schools in the state of Wisconsin. As part of our school district responsibility to the community, it is important for these issues to be brought to your attention. Below is a brief summary of ...

Citizen Input Provides Important Details of Conservation Budget Cuts

Citizen Input Provides Important Details of Conservation Budget Cuts By State Senator Kathleen Vinehout "Why is it I keep hearing more about what’s in the governor’s budget?” the woman asked me. “Don’t you see it all at once and then decide what to do?”It can be difficult for legislators to know the full effect of cuts without the critical input of citizens.For example, news of cuts to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) made its way to western Wisconsin. Constituents communicated back to me the effect of these cuts. Through emails, phone calls and office visits I was able to piece together the real effect of a few lines of ...

PROTECTING WISCONSIN’S WATER

An editorial in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel April 7, 2015 states: "Once again, Gov. Scott Walker's budget is taking Wisconsin in the wrong direction. Instead of spending more to curb runoff pollution, the 2015-'17 budget actually cuts programs that address the problem. That not only weakens protections for the state's waterways, it undercuts administration officials who say they're committed to reducing runoff pollution." The governor's budget cuts $5.7 million from programs needed to address runoff problems. The cuts would reduce funding and staff at the county and state levels, diminish the university's outreach, and cut funding to ...

RETURNING THE BRIBE

Recently, I sent checks to five public schools in Wisconsin along with a letter explaining my actions. I can't in good conscience accept the "bribe" of a so-called tax refund when it impacts the welfare of my grandchildren and over 800,000 students attending public schools. I believe in investing in our great public schools and the children who attend them. The generations who came before me invested in my public education. I am forever grateful to them. The previous generations wanted a better life for us and knew that a public education was the key to that better life. They knew an educated populace is crucial for our representative ...